Grip selector for bowlers



y s. M. BLOOMBERG 2,377.067 GRIP SELECTOR FOR BOWLERS v File d Dec. '18, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 1' SHMUEL M02 7/44 5L 00M5E29 WWW 3M5 Patented May 29, 1945 UNITED "sTArss "P TE T orr cs 2,377,067 onrr sELsc'ron Foa nownnas 7 Samuel M. Bloomberg, Chicago, 111.

Application December 1a, 1943, Serial No. 51am 5 Claims. Cl. 33-174) This invention relates to a, device which is aptly termed a grip selector for bowlers, the primary object of the invention being to provide a device to aid bowlers. in determining the grip or combination of finger and thumb holes, as to relative arrangement, size and spacing, which is best suitedtto the respective bowlers, thereby enabling the bowlers to select the most desirable lent member having an arcuate face of fixed predetermined radius and having formed therein at said face a row of spaced finger holes and a row of spaced thumb holes, the respective thumb holes being substantially opposed .to certain of the finger holes to provide a series of grip combinations, each embodying a thumb hole and at least one finger hole tov simultaneously receive the thumb and a finger of a bowlers hand. Means is provided on this member to identify each grip combination and distinguish it irom. the others, the relative sizes and spacing of the finger and thumb holes 01 each grip combination differing from those oi the other grip combinations. The radius or the arcuate' face of said member corresponds to that of the'bowling balls which have grip combinations corresponding to I those provided on this particular member, Thus. a selector will be provided for bowling balls of one diameter, and a different selector will be provided for bowling balls of a diilerent diameter.

Also, selectors will be provided separately for grip combinations involving one thumb hole and one finger hole andgrip combinations having one thumb hole and two finger holes, so that the selector used will be that having the desired type oi grip combinations.

In the selector for three-point'grips, or those embodying one thumb hole and two finger holes for each grip combination, the thumb holes are preferably staggered relative to the finger holes, so that the right finger hole or each grip combination constitutes the left finger. hole oi the next succeedingv grip combination. Further. one

row of holes is preferably. straight, .while the other is uneven to provideitor the necessary difi'erences in spacing between the holes or each.

' grip combinationand those of other grip combinations.

A preferred embodiment oi the inventi n con sists in providing a log-like member in t e form or a segment or a cylinder, the arcuate race oi which corresponds in curvature or radius to that oi. the bowling balls having the grip combinations provided in member. An elongated member provided with a series of grip combinations is thus had which may be conveniently used simultaneously by a number or bowlers in determining the grip combination best suited to their respective use, and consequently in determining the most desirable ball for use. Y

The present invention is to-be particularly distinguished from prior devices used to determine the best size of thumb and finger openings for a particular bowler and the best grip span for such bowler, in which the thumb and a finger oi the bowler are not simultaneously engaged in thumb and finger openings 0! the device whose spacing is suitable for that bowler. Also, th invention is to be further distinguished from prior devices used to determine the proper location of the holes in a bowling ball for a particular purchaser and involving relatively adjustable members respectively provided with the thumb and finger holes.

The exact nature and purpose or the presentinvention will be clearly understood from the following description when considered in connection with they accompanying drawings.

in the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout" the several wiews:

Figure l is a top plan view of a grip selector embodying the present invention and afi'ording grip combinations, each 0! which .includes a 7 thumb hole and two finger holes.

Figure 2 is an elevational view looking upwardly at Figure 1.

Figure 8 is a. transverse section taken on line 3-8 of Figure l. r

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 1. showing a modification of the invention, and

Figure 5 is a transverse section taken on line 5-4 oi Figure 4.

Referring in detail to the drawings. the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 3, inclusive, con- 'sists oi an elongated log-like member 5 in the form of a segmentoi a cylinder whose arcuate face l is of a radius corresponding to that or a bowling ball of given diameter. Thus; the face 8 is oi fixed predetermined radius, and the member 5 has formed therein at said'arcuat'e face a row of spaced finger holes 1 formed exactly as they are'in bowling balls. The row of holes I is-p'rovided longitudinally of the member 5, and another longitudinal row of spaced thumb holes is also provided in the member lat the arcuate face I and in the manner conventional with respec't to the-provision oi thumb holes in bowling balls. The respective thumb holes I are substantially opposed to certain of the finger holes so as to provide a series of grip combinations, and indicia is provided, as at I, to identify each grip combination and distinguish it from the others. One row of holes is preferably straight, and the other row is uneven, the straight row preferably being the Thus, opposed thumb and of the grip combinations vary, and the thumb holes are staggered relative to the finger holes to provide three-point grips, each using two finger holes and one thumb hole. Also, the arrangement is such that the right finger hole of each grip combination constitutes the left finger hole of the next succeeding grip combination, thereby providing for a complete number of grip combinations in a member of minimum length.

The embodiment shown in Figures 4 and 5 isthe same as that shown in Figures -1 to 3, inclusive, except that the device is employed for two-point grips or grip combinations, each of which embodies one thumb hole and one,finger hole. In this form, the elongated member in the form of a segment of a cylinder is indicated at 5a and it has the arcuate face 60. provided with the rows of finger holes Ia and thumb holes 8a. In this in-.

stance, the finger hole of each grip combination is directly opposed to or in transverse alignment with its associated thumb hole 811, and indicia 9a is provided to identify each grip combination and distinguish it fromthe others.

In using the invention, the bowlers have only to glance at the device and decide the approximate location of the grip combinations best suitable for them. They then simply place their fingers andthumbs in the combination of holes pregrips and thereby obtaining the key number or grip combination number of the selected proper grip combination. By giving this number or data to the bowlingestablishment attendant, he can readily furnish the bowler with balls having the proper selected grip combination. The selection is expedited by having the grip combinations progressively arranged so that they embody combinations decreasing in spacing of holes or sizes of holes from one end of the device to the other.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a simple and practical device for carrying out the stated objects of the invention, and it is to be understood that the invention is capable of various changes and modifications, such as fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

What I'claim as new is:

l. A device to aid a bowler in determining the combination of finger and thumb holes, as to relative arrangement, spacing and size, best suited 2. A deviceto aid a bowler in determining the combination of finger and thumb holes, as torelaothers, the relative sizes and spacing of the finger and thumb holes of each grip combination being such as to simultaneously and correctly receive the thumb and a finger or fingers of the bowler if they provide the proper grip combination for that bowler, said relative sizes and spacing of the finger and thumb holes of each grip combination differing from that of the other grip combinations.

3. A device to aid a bowler in determining the best combination of finger and thumb holes, as to relative arrangement, size and spacing, which is best suited to his use, comprising an elongated member of log-like form and in the nature of at least a segment of a cylinder, said member having an arcuate face of fixed, predetermined radius and having formed therein at said face a longitudinal row of spaced finger holes and a longitudinal row of spaced thumb holes, the respective thumb holes'being substantially opposed to certain of the finger holes to provide a series of grip combinations, means identifying each grip combination and distinguishing it from the others, the relative sizes and spacing of the finger and 17 thumb holes of each grip combination differing from that of the other grip combinations, and being such that the holes of each grip combination will simultaneously and correctly receive the thumband at least one finger of the bowler suited to that combination.

4. A device to aid a bowler in determinin the best combination of finger and thumb holes, as to relativearrangement, size and spacing, which is best-suited to his use, comprising an elongated member of log-like form and in the nature of at least a segment of a cylinder, said member having an arcuate face of fixed predetermined radius and having formed therein at said face a longitudinal row of spaced finger holes and a longitudinal row of spaced thumb holes, the respective thumb holes being substantially opposed to certain of the finger holes to provide a series of grip combinations, means identifying each grip combination and distinguishing it from the others, the relative sizes and spacing of the .finger and thumb holes of each grip combination differing from that of the other grip combinations, and being such that the holes of each grip. combination will simultaneously and correctly receive the thumb and two fingers of the bowler suited for that grip combination, there being two finger holes for each thumb holes of each grip combination, and th thumb holes being staggered relative to the finger holes, the finger holes being spaced apart and so related to the thumb holes that the right finger hole of each grip combination constitutes the left finger hole of the next succeeding grip combination.

5. A device to aidr'a bowler in determining the combination of finger and thumb holes, as to relative arrangement, size and spacing, which is best suited to said bowler; comprising an elongated member having an arcuate face. of fixed predetermined radius and having formed therein at said face a longitudinal row of spaced finger tially opposed to certain 'of the finger holes to provide a series of gripcombinations, means iden- I tifying each grip combination and distinguishing 5 the thumband a finger or fingers of the bowler I holes and a longitudinal row of spaced thumb holes, the respective thumb holes being substanif they provide the prooer grip combination for i that bowler, said relative sizes and spacing of the finger. and thumb holes of each-grip combination diflering from that of the other grip combinations, the grip combinations progressive- 1y decreasing in spacing and sizes of holes-from one end ofthe member to the other end thereof.

sAMUEnM. BLOOMBERG. 

